This morning we did our normal sunny day routine of starting the day with an hour in the garden before breakfast just watching the birds come and go at the Mulberry tree.  Beth has come to appreciate the meditative quality of getting into the pace of the birds.  Normal routine is probably not the right descriptor because even though the general approach is the same there is always some surprise if you are patient.  This morning I noticed a tiny participant in the morning events.  It was a Ruby Throated Hummingbird perched on a vine in the tree.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Now I’ve seen the hummingbirds flitting about the yard but I don’t remember seeing one perched before.  Everything about them looks so delicate.  And yet, as Beth noted, if you look them in the eye you could say they have an attitude…

Another occurrence this morning was the first time I’ve seen the Baltimore Oriole go into the yard close to the house.  He was in and out of the cherry tree and going down to the ground in pursuit of some insect or worm.  The remarkable thing about spotting the Orioles so regularly is the number of years we never saw them (or noticed them which is hard to imagine given their brilliant orange coloring).

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Other mornings have brought equally interesting sightings.

Baltimore Oriole (female)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) eating mulberry

Beth says she thinks he looks like a penguin

Eastern Kingbird

Overhead I have seen the Great Blue Heron come by on a couple of mornings

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) flying overhead

And of course the Bluebird is a constant favorite

Male Bluebird (Sialia sialis) and breakfast

And lest it appear that all we do is watch birds, we have been picking blueberries every day.

30 year old Blueberry row (Bluecrop is the best of the bunch)

A fine crop of blueberries

So far we have frozen several gallons and we are eating them morning, noon, and night…